Plastic massage bottle

ABSTRACT

A plastic massage bottle has a neck portion with a mouth openably closed by a cap, a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, a bottom portion, and a body portion interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion. The body portion is formed with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6mm so that the body portion can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body. The body portion includes a plurality of pressure massage protrusions so shaped and arranged that they can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body. Massage-aiding fluid is at least partially filled in the bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping or pressing motion of the bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a plastic bottle, and more particularly to a plastic massage bottle utilizable as a massage tool that includes a body portion at least partially filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic energy and having a thickness small enough to allow elastic deformation in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body and pressure massage protrusions formed on the body portion with such a shape and arrangement as to apply massage pressure to discrete and adjacent points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Synthetic resin bottles usually produced by way of a blow molding technique and used to contain foods or drinks are made of thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate(PET), polyethylene(PE) or polypropylene (PP). For the sake of explanation, such synthetic resin bottles will be generally referred to as a “plastic bottle” hereinbelow.

[0005] The plastic bottle is widely used as a substitution for a glass bottle and a metal can mainly because it is hardly broken and easily treated, and for the very reason, the consumption of the plastic bottle continues to increase in the field of food and drink industry. In recent, a PET bottle for the storage of beer with improved blocking function is developed in the United States, Europe and Japan, and is applied to a wider spectrum of use.

[0006] Particularly, the PET bottle is friendly to environments since it is harmless to human body, capable of being recycled and not generating toxic substance in the course of incineration. The PET bottle is also excellent in blocking gas such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, thus assuring that the fluid in the PET bottle can be kept fresh for a prolonged period of time. In addition, the PET bottle is of lightweight nature, exhibits good strength and rigidity, and provides excellent resealability, moldability and transparency in comparison with a glass bottle or a metal can.

[0007] The PET bottle can be classified into several types depending on the internal pressure exerted on the bottle after the bottle is filled with contents.

[0008] Namely, there are a normal pressure bottle into which contents are filled at normal pressure and mainly used to contain mineral water, soy sauce, cooking oil, raw rice wine and foods; a pressure resistant bottle having an internal pressure higher than a normal pressure when contents are filled thereinto and used to contain mainly carbonated water such as coke or pop; a heat and pressure resistant bottle which permits thermal sterilization of low-carbonic water by heat and used to contain milk, soda water or barley soda water; and a heat resistance bottle which is capable of hot filling at about 85˜95° C. and used to contain fruit juice, cocktail, tea, coffee, isotonic drink and so on.

[0009] Most purchasers of plastic bottle products for foodstuffs or drink have a tendency to just throw away the used plastic bottles after eating or drinking the contents, which leads to waste of useful resources and poses great difficulty in garbage disposal due to the big size of the bottles themselves. Collecting and recycling the plastic bottles is also disadvantageous in the aspect of equipment and cost therefor. This is why the plastic bottles are hardly recycled nowadays and has a limited usage as a bottle for containing water.

[0010] The inventors have found that the plastic bottle can be used as a massage tool if fluid is appropriately filled in the bottle after its contents are drunk or used, and thus developed a plastic massage bottle which can be reused as a massage tool which gives useful massage effects either by tapping and pressing the human body with the use of the bottle or kneading and scrubbing the bottle by hands.

[0011] Prior art search made by the inventors has revealed various types of prior art references as cited and briefly set forth below.

[0012] First Type of Prior Art

[0013] As for a plastic bottle for foods and drinks made by blow molding, there are Korean Design Registration Nos. 192887 and 194598; U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D.369,556, D.395,826, D.411,457, D.411,740 and D.448,677; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,730. These references suggest a plastic bottle having an approximately diamond panel-shaped pattern provided on all or a part of the outer surface of a body portion.

[0014] As another prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,826 discloses a collapsible container in which diamond-type panels are suitably formed on an outer surface of a body portion of the container for the purpose of lessening release or loss of gas from carbonated water. The container can be bent and collapsed along the diamond-type panels to reduce its volume.

[0015] The diamond patterns employed in this type of bottles and containers are just for aesthetic purpose or mechanical strength enhancement or collapsibility improvement and not for massage effects.

[0016] Second Type of Prior Art

[0017] There have been proposed techniques whereby brush, comb or massage protrusions are integrally formed on a bottle or a plastic container.

[0018] For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. D.264,181 discloses a bottle in which brushes are integrally formed on an outer surface of a body portion of the bottle. U.S. Design Pat. No. D.251,826 teaches a bottle in which comb pattern and massage protrusions are integrally formed on both sides of a body portion of the bottle. Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H10-248634 shows a hair trimming container having a plurality of long leg protrusions formed in a cone shape to one outer surface of a body portion or to a cap of a plastic container so that the long leg protrusions may stir and wash hair with bubbles generated by shampoo and stimulate the head skin to give massage effect. U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,499 discloses a multi-purpose container having a function of comb and brush as in Japanese Publication No. H10-248634.

[0019] The conventional techniques of the second type give limited effects of giving head skin massage by scrubbing or pressing the container on the head skin when washing the hair.

[0020] Third Type of Prior Art

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,272 discloses a multi-purpose container and cap structure having a massage device, which allows a massagist to fill and carry perfume or chemicals therein. Since hemispherical protrusions are formed at a lower surface of the container and the cap has a pointed tip, the massagist rolls or press the container in contact with the skin of a patient, so giving two massage effects.

[0022] Korean Utility Registration No. 72164 shows a massage tool used as a cosmetics container and Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. H11-309081 discloses a push device for a container. According to these references, a handle is formed to one side of a body portion of the container so that the user may grasp it with one hand and a plurality of hemispherical protrusions are formed at the other side so as to give friction or massage effects when scrubbed or pressed against a human body.

[0023] The prior art products in this third type allow the user to massage his or her body in a so-called static manner, thus significantly limiting massage effects.

[0024] Fourth Type of Prior Art

[0025] Korean Design Registration No. 149790 and Korean Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 94-26707 are directed to a glass bottle having protruded needles. In these references, a plurality of pointed needles are formed on a body portion of the glass bottle so that the protruded needles may stimulate suitable spots on the palm as the user grasps the bottle, thereby giving hand acupuncture effects popular in Korea.

[0026] Although fourth type of prior art allows the user to get hand acupuncture effects, the kinetic energy of the glass bottle is entirely transferred to the human body with unbearable pains as the user is tapping his or her body with the glass bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The present invention has been conceived to solve the problems inherent in the afore-cited prior art references, and it is a primary object of the invention to provide a plastic massage bottle that can provide water cushion effects to thereby absorb a substantial part of the striking energy of the bottle and enable the human body to be massaged softly but efficiently without pains.

[0028] Another object of the present invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which can make it possible to perform various types of massage by adjusting the amount of the fluid filled in the bottle.

[0029] A further object of the present invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which may give refreshing massage effects by refreshinging medium filled into the bottle and the smashing sound generated in the tapping motion of the bottle.

[0030] A still further object of the present invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which has an improved utility as a massage tool during and after its use.

[0031] A yet still further object of the present invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which can give optical decoration effects by use of refraction of the light beam passing through the bottle.

[0032] A yet still further important object of the present invention is to provide a plastic massage bottle which can significantly improves buckling strength and internal pressure resistance of the bottle.

[0033] The objects noted above can be accomplished by the plastic massage bottle according to the present invention, the massage principle of which is described below.

[0034] When an object is struck by another one, the striking energy is determined by the mass and speed of the striker. In case of a massage tool, the striking force tends to concentrate on a local portion of the human body due mainly to the reduced contact area of the massage tool with the human body. This means that a consideration in functional aspect should be given not to cause any injury or pain to the human body. In other words, when the human body is struck with the massage tool by normal force, the massage tool itself should preferably absorb the striking energy, thus minimizing the physical force transferred to the human body.

[0035] The striking energy generated by crash of two objects is converted into another type of energy such as deformation, destruction, sound, vibration or heat energy and will then disappear soon.

[0036] Turning to the present invention, as the plastic bottle is struck to the human body, the fluid in the body portion of the bottle is instantly surged and the body portion is elastically deformed so that the plastic bottle can absorb the striking energy through the interaction of the fluid surging behavior and the elastic deformation. Thus, the massaging effects is maximized by the initial striking energy applied to the human body and, the striking energy is hardly transferred to the human body due to a so-called water cushion.

[0037] The inventive plastic massage bottle filled with fluid has relatively high striking energy, when moved speedily, owing to the great mass of the fluid and thus helps increase the effect of massaging the human body. The plastic massage bottle of the present invention is desirably produced by thermoplastic synthetic resin with a suitable degree of elasticity such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.

[0038] In the process of massage by striking the human body with the plastic bottle, dynamic behavior of the fluid is generated in the airtight plastic bottle due to the instantaneous surge, and then transferred to the body portion of the bottle. This will cause repeated elastic deformation of the body portion, thus performing a varying level of massage with respect to the human body. At this time, owing to the combined action of the kinetic energy generated by instantaneous surge of the fluid in the plastic bottle just after crash with the human body and the elastic deformation energy of the body portion, most of the striking energy is not delivered to the human body and absorbed by the body portion of the bottle itself, which assures excellent massage no or little pain. For this purpose, it is important to make the body portion of the plastic bottle as thin as possible.

[0039] Elastic force of an object is determined by strain energy. Thus, such object as metal, glass and wood with high rigidity and strength cannot absorb the striking energy by its own deformation and this striking energy is entirely transferred to the human body with accompanying pain. This is not a massage but a flogging, so there exists a need for a mechanical damping device.

[0040] The body portion of the plastic bottle according to the present invention should have a thickness of 0.1 mm˜0.6 mm, preferably 0.1 mm˜0.4 mm, which can be varied depending on the strength of the material employed and the capacity of the plastic bottle. Nearer to the thickness of 0.1 mm, the striking energy of the fluid is better absorbed in the body portion. Nearer to the thickness of 0.6 mm, on the while, the absorption of the striking energy of the fluid becomes worse.

[0041] If the thickness of the body portion is over 0.6 mm, the elastic deformation of the body portion is significantly deteriorated and, therefore, the user would feel painful when the plastic bottle is struck on his or her body.

[0042] If the thickness of the body portion is less than 0.1 mm, the striking energy of the fluid is well absorbed by the bottle but the elastic restoring force of the body portion is decreased, thereby deteriorating the massage effect, lessening the buckling strength and increasing the possibility of breakdown.

[0043] As described above, the plastic bottle of the present invention has suitable elasticity which is defined as follows on the basis of the material dynamics:

E=P/ l²÷Δl/l

[0044] wherein E: elastic modulus or elasticity, P: force, l²: sectional area of material, Δl: difference of length after deformed, and l: original length of material.

[0045] This equation indicates that the stress is proportional to the strain. In case of a plastic bottle having a reduced thickness, there may be such an instance where the plastic bottle is collapsed and then not restored when pressed forcibly. This is because the force has exceeded the yield strength by which the strain remains proportional to the strain.

[0046] However, if the plastic bottle is filled with fluid and sealed by a cap, the plastic bottle is easily restored even after deformed by excessive force, which self-restoring action shall be contributable to the internal pressure preserving tendency of the bottle and the gravitational force exerting on the fluid itself.

[0047] This self-restoring action can be equally observed in most kinds of fluid including beverage, portable water, juice, alcohol, oil and milk which have the specific weight of 0.6˜1.5. Use of the fluid with increased specific weight makes it possible to freely adjust the massage effect by controlling the striking speed and the fluid amount.

[0048] Described below is the mechanism of absorbing the striking energy when a plastic bottle filled with fluid and closed by a cap is used as a massage tool:

[0049] ( ) Generation of deformation energy of the plastic bottle itself including, a) the energy required for elastic deformation of the pressure massage protrusions, b) the energy required for deformation of the body portion itself, and c) the vibration energy generated by repetition of deformation mentioned in items a) and b).

[0050] ( ) Generation of kinetic energy of the fluid in the plastic bottle including, a) the kinetic energy due to the behavior of the fluid directly lo transferred from the plastic bottle, b) the kinetic energy due to the surge of the fluid, c) the kinetic energy caused by the movement of the fluid due to the elastic deformation of the body portion, and d) the kinetic energy caused by the combined action of the behaviors noted in items a), b) and c).

[0051] In the present invention, most of the striking energy is offset and absorbed by the bottle body portion immediately after the kinetic energy of (i) and (ii) is generated, and therefore the massage effect is delicately adjusted by the pressure massage protrusions of (i).

[0052] Also in the present invention, the kinetic energy of the fluid generated by the striking action is converted into the instantaneous increase of local pressure through the pressure massage protrusions and then transferred to the human body. At this moment, the individual pressing point is broadened due to compression of the pressure massage protrusions as the protrusions are brought into contact with the human body.

[0053] Accordingly, repulsive force is generated to deform the body portion so that the deformation force can be converted into the kinetic energy of the fluid in the bottle. This assures that the instantaneous pressing force applied to the human body is substantially decreased, thus giving refreshing massage effect on the human body with no or little pain.

[0054] In the meantime, the inventors have found through repetitive experiments that a bottle weighing less than 1 kg is suitable for conducting the massage by striking the human body with the bottle, and thus it is preferred that a plastic bottle with capacity of less than 1 lit is used as a striking massage tool.

[0055] Big plastic bottles of 1.5 lit, 1.8 lit or 2 lit capacity are useful for a rolling massage tool inasmuch as they are too heavy to be used as the striking massage tool. A plastic bottle with less than 11 it capacity may be used as a pressing massage tool which gives massage effect as it is tampered with hands or scrubbed with palms. In this type of pressing massage bottle, the shape of the pressure massage protrusions and the body portion can be appropriately changed to maximize the massage effect.

[0056] In the striking type massage bottle, massage protrusions can be formed on a shoulder portion between a neck portion and the body portion. Thus, the user may obtain massage effect on his or her palm by simply grasping the shoulder portion. The shoulder portion should have such a diameter and length that permits the user to grasp the bottle with ease. It is also desirable that the shoulder portion should be curved or sloped so as to assure gentle change of the cross sectional area.

[0057] A handle portion may be added by extending the shoulder portion between the neck portion and the body portion. It would be also possible to form massage protrusions on the handle so that the user can enjoy massage of his or her own palm.

[0058] The pressure massage protrusions formed on the body portion can be shaped into a hemisphere, cone or pyramid. The spacing and height of the pressure massage protrusions are determined in consideration of moldability and intrinsic massage ability of the material in such a manner that, when conducting massage, the skin of the human body is kept out of contact with the outer surface of the body portion. If the height of the pressure massage protrusions is too low, the human body will make intimate contact with the outer surface of the body portion as well as the pressure massage protrusions, thereby reducing the massage effects to a great extent.

[0059] The local pressure massage effect is increased if the pressure massage protrusions are formed to have a pointed tip. In case where the pressure massage protrusions are formed in a dual stage or multiple stage volcano configuration, the base area of the protrusions is capable of elastic deformation with ease, thus increasing the striking energy absorbing ability of the plastic bottle and improving the massage effect.

[0060] If the pressure massage protrusions are too closely arranged, elastic deformation and subsequent restoration of the body portion will be hindered, which leads to painful and inefficient massaging operation. The closely arranged protrusions may also have an adverse effect to the moldability and releasability of the bottle from a forming mold. On the other hand, if the pressure massage protrusions are arranged in a wider spacing with each other, the pressure applying points will be dispersed far away, eventually deteriorating the effect of massage.

[0061] As described above, the pressure massage protrusions formed on the outer surface of the body portion should be shaped and arranged so as to make contact with the human body and then apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete and adjacent areas of the human skin when the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body. Preferably, the pressure massage protrusions are spaced apart at a spacing of 5.0˜25.0 mm and with a height of 2.0˜10.0 mm. Spacing and height of the massage protrusions formed on the shoulder portion is made preferably equal to that of the pressure massage protrusions of the body portion.

[0062] In order to produce the plastic bottle by blow molding, use is made of a 2-part mold, 3-part mold or multiple part mold depending on the size and shape of the bottle to be produced. Accordingly, the shape, height and angle of the pressure massage protrusions should be taken into account in designing a bottle mold so that the pressure massage protrusions of the body portion can be formed with the use of a 2-part mold or 3-part mold. In addition, the pressure massage protrusions should not be formed near a mold parting line of the body portion in an effort to improve the moldability and releasability of the bottle.

[0063] The amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle for striking massage is preferably 30%˜90% of the volume of the bottle. If the fluid amount is less than 30%, the striking energy due to behavior of the fluid becomes too small. If the fluid amount is more than 90%, the internal air compression amount, when the bottle is struck, is decreased while the rigidity of the plastic bottle itself is increased. In this case, the pressure massage protrusions fail to play their role and a great magnitude of striking energy is applied to the human body, causing pain or displeasure to the user.

[0064] If the plastic bottle is used as a rolling massage tool, the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle is preferably 100% or near 100% of the internal volume of the plastic bottle. Since the plastic bottle of this usage is rolled against the human skin during massaging operation, the empty space in the plastic bottle may cause the bottle to be distorted when the bottle is rolled and pressed, making it difficult to conduct smooth massage.

[0065] In case the massage is to be performed by tampering the bottle by hands or scrubbing it by palms, the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle is preferably near 100% of the volume of the bottle.

[0066] Based on the theoretical background noted above, the plastic massage bottle according to the invention comprises a neck portion with a mouth openably closed by a cap, a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, a bottom portion, and a body portion interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and at least partially filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic energy in response to motion of the bottle. The body portion having a thickness small enough to allow elastic deformation of the body portion in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body but great enough to normally keep the structural integrity of the bottle, the body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] Other objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0068]Figs. 1a through id are front views of plastic massage bottles according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

[0069]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1b;

[0070]FIG. 3 shows the plastic massage bottle in use;

[0071]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of “Z” portion in FIG. 3 showing the behavior of pressure massage protrusions;

[0072] FIGS. 5 to 7 are front views illustrating different type of body portions of the plastic massage bottle having a label attachment area;

[0073]FIG. 8 is a front view showing an modified plastic massage bottle to which a handle portion is added;

[0074]FIGS. 9a to 9 c are front views of the plastic massage bottles having different arrangement of the massage protrusions formed to the body portion;

[0075]Figs. 10a and 10 b are front views showing various body portions of the plastic massage bottle according to the present invention;

[0076]Figs. 1a to 11 d are schematic front views showing various shapes and arrangements of the massage protrusions formed to the body portion according to the present invention;

[0077]FIGS. 12a and 12 b are enlarged views showing one of the massage protrusions shown in Figs. 1a and 1 b;

[0078]FIGS. 12c to 12 e are enlarged views showing modifications of the massage protrusions formed to the body portion of the plastic massage bottle according to the present invention;

[0079]FIG. 13 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0080]FIG. 14a is an enlarged view showing one of the massage protrusions shown in FIG. 13;

[0081]FIGS. 14b to 14 e are enlarged sectional views showing various modifications of the massage protrusions of FIG. 14a;

[0082]FIG. 15 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle according a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0083]FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 15;

[0084]FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 15;

[0085]FIGS. 18a and 18 b are front views showing a plastic massage bottle according a still further embodiment of the present invention;

[0086]FIG. 19a is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the massage protrusions shown in FIG. 18a;

[0087]FIG. 19b is an enlarged sectional view showing a modification of the massage protrusions shown in FIG. 19a;

[0088]FIGS. 20a and 20 b are front views showing a plastic massage bottle according to a yet still further embodiment of the present invention;

[0089]FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a wraparound sheet on which the massage protrusions of FIG. 20a are formed;

[0090]FIG. 22 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle according to a yet still further additional embodiment of the present invention;

[0091]FIG. 23a is a perspective view showing an attachment sheet on which the massage protrusions of FIG. 22 are formed;

[0092]FIG. 23b is a perspective showing a modification of the attachment sheet of FIG. 22; and

[0093]FIG. 24 is a front view showing a plastic massage bottle according to a yet still further additional important embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0094] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings attached.

[0095] It should be understood that the following description is provided for the purpose of example only and should not be construed in a limitative meaning.

[0096] Referring first to Figs. 1a to 1 d, there is shown a plastic massage bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The plastic bottles 10A and 10B shown in Figs. 1a to 1 d have a capacity of 0.5 lit and a body portion thickness of 0.2 mm, for instance.

[0097] Reference numeral 10A in FIG. 1 a generally denotes the plastic massage bottle according to the present invention. The plastic bottle 10A includes a neck portion 12 with a mouth 12 a openably closed by a cap 30, a shoulder portion 14 extending from the neck portion 12, a bottom portion 18, a body portion 16 interconnecting the shoulder portion 14 and the bottom portion 18 and at least partially filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic energy in response to motion of the bottle.

[0098] The body portion 16 having a thickness small enough to allow elastic deformation of the body portion 16 in the event of the plastic massage bottle 10A being tapped on or pressed against a human body but great enough to normally keep the structural integrity of the bottle 10A. A plurality of pressure massage protrusions 20 protrudes from an outer surface of the body portion 16. The pressure massage protrusions 20 serve as a pressure massage means and so shaped and arranged that they can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle 10A is tapped on or pressed against the human body. Reference numeral 12 b designates a capping flange formed below the neck portion 12 with a threaded portion and adapted to cooperate with the cap 30 to openably close the bottle mouth.

[0099] The pressure massage protrusions 20 shown in Fig. 1a have a hemispherical shape and the pressure massage protrusions 20 shown in Fig. 1b have a cone shape. In the plastic bottle 10B of Figs. 1c and 1 d, hemispherical and cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the body portion 16 and a plurality of hemispherical and cone-shaped massage protrusions 14 a are further integrally formed on an outer surface of the shoulder portion 14.

[0100] The plastic bottles 10A and 10B are made of thermoplastic synthetic resin by blow molding, e.g., hot Parison method or cold Parison method. In the hot Parison method, a preform formed by injection molding of thermoplastic synthetic resin is made into a plastic bottle by stretch blow molding at high temperature. In the cold Parison method, thermoplastic synthetic resin is molded by injection and then solidified by refreshinging to thereby form a preform, after which the preform is heated again and then subjected to blow molding to produce a plastic bottle.

[0101] The pressure massage protrusions 20 of the plastic bottle 10A or 10B are protruded from the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2 and have a thickness identical to one another. The body portion 16 has a reduced thickness so that the body portion 16 can be elastically deformed and swiftly restored as the fluid filled in the plastic bottle 10A or 10B is surged within the body portion 16.

[0102] The thickness of the body portion 16 is preferably 0.1 mm˜0.6 mm but can be varied depending on the strength of the plastic material such as PET, PE and PP and the capacity of the plastic bottle 10A or 10B. More preferably, the thickness of the body portion 16 is 0.1 mm˜0.4 mm, and in this range the body portion 16 can absorb the striking energy quite well.

[0103]FIG. 3 shows the plastic bottle 10B of the present invention in use. Referring to FIG. 3, when a user grasps near the shoulder portion 14 with a hand 40 and strikes a certain area, e.g., the arm of a human body 50 for massage, the struck body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10B is elastically deformed and inwardly bent in an arcuate shape. At this time, the repective tip of the pressure massage protrusions 20 will apply instantaneously increased pressure to a localized point of the human body to provide energetic massage. This will assure, as shown in FIG. 4, that the pressing tips of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are compressed and broadened owing to the repulsive load concentrated thereto. In addition, at the moment of striking, the striking energy applied to the human body returns back to the plastic bottle 10B by means of deformation of the body portion 16, so that the striking energy is converted into kinetic energy of the fluid 60 in the plastic bottle 10B and then gradually extinguished in the plastic bottle 10B, making the user feel good.

[0104] As for contents filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B, there can be used drinks such as carbonated water like coke and pop, portable water, fruit juice, cocktail, isotonic drink, milk, beer, white distilled liquor and unrefined rice wine, food additives such as soy, vinegar, mayonnaise and ketchup, and foods such as sesame, starch and powdered red pepper.

[0105] In case that the portable water is filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B, the user may use the bottle as a massage tool after drinking some amount of the water and then closing the cap 30. If the user drinks the whole water, the user may carry out the intended massage with the bottle after refilling some amount of water in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B. In case of carbonated water like coke, shaking the plastic bottles 10A and 10B may cause the pressure in the bottle to increase. Thus, the user should drink all the contents and then refill water in the bottle for massage. In case of sesame, powdered red pepper, mayonnaise or ketchup bottle, if the bottle runs dry, water can be filled in the bottle to use the it as a massage tool.

[0106] The amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B of a striking massage type is preferably 30%˜90% of the volume of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B. If the fluid volume is less than 30%, the striking energy generated by the behavior of the fluid becomes too small to get a sufficient massaging effect. If the fluid volume is more than 90%, air compression amount, namely amount of compressed air when the bottle is struck, is relatively decreased and the rigidity of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B itself is increased. In this case, the amount of behavior of the pressure massage protrusions 20 is reduced and the striking energy is increased, thus causing pain or displeasure to the user.

[0107] If the plastic bottle 10A or 10B is empty and sealed by the cap 30 in order to give massage by striking, ‘clang-clang’ sound is generated and the pressure massage protrusions 20 together with the body portion 16 are little deformed. In this case, if the plastic bottles 10A and 10B have big capacity, the massage action gives pain and discomfort to the user like whipping. On the contrary, if the plastic bottles 10A and 10B have small capacity, the bottle cannot give sufficient massaging effect to the user due to its nature of light weight.

[0108] To effect massage by use of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B filled with the fluid, the user grasps near the shoulder portion 14 between the neck portion 12 and the body portion 16 by the hand 40 and then strikes his or her body with the plastic bottles 10A and 10B. At this time, the capping flange 12 b formed under the neck portion 12 supports the hand 40 grasping the shoulder portion 14, which enables the user to make massage in a more stable motion.

[0109] When giving a massage by striking the human body with the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10A or 10B, dynamic behavior of the fluid 60 generated by the striking force to the fluid 60 in the capped plastic bottle 10A or 10B is transferred to the body portion 16. Then, elastic deformation of the body portion 16 is repeated and thus the pressure massage protrusions 20 of the body portion 16 are tapped on the human body to give the intended massage effect. At this time, owing to the interaction of the kinetic energy generated by instant surge of the fluid in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B, the striking energy is not entirely transferred to the human body but the substantial parts of the energy are absorbed into the body portion 16 itself. This makes it possible to effect refreshing massage without causing any pain to the human body.

[0110] In the meantime, if the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B is 100% or so of the bottle, other types of massages become possible.

[0111] In other words, if the user does not drink the content in the purchased bottle at all, the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B remains 100% of the bottle capacity. In this state, the plastic bottles 10A and 10B are hardly subjected to elastic deformation due to the lack of empty space. Even though external force is exerted to the body portion 16, the body portion 16 keeps its taut state. Thus, if the user scrubs or fumbles the bottle with hands or rolls the body portion against the body of the user, the pressure massage protrusions 20 stimulate the hands or the human body to give effect of massage. At this time, the water cushion effect is also generated owing to slight elastic deformation and subsquent restoration of the body portion 16, assuring that the massage are conducted cheerfully.

[0112] As described, an amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottles 10A and 10B and a striking speed of the bottle can be controlled so that a user may enjoy desired massage effect with suitable striking intensity and also enjoy the palm stimulation or massage by scrubbing or rolling the bottle.

[0113] In case of the striking massage, the desirable capacity of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B is less than 1 lit in consideration of fatigue of the wrist. In case of the massage by fumbling the bottle with hands or rolling the bottle against the sole of the foot, the waist or the knee of the user, the capacity of the plastic bottles 10A and 10B is not limited. In another aspect, the pressure massage protrusions 20 on the body portion 16 give a decorative beauty such as so called ‘a crystal effect’ to the transparent plastic bottles 10A and 10B.

[0114] For example, though having good transparency, the PET bottle generally gives just a clean appearance without a crystal effect using refraction of transmitted light, which is usually realized by a glass bottle with the same good transparency. Thus, the plastic bottle has been considered to have insufficient visual changes.

[0115] One of main causes of the low crystal effect in the PET bottle is that the PET bottle, which is generally made by biaxial stretch blow molding, has so small thickness and to give insufficient refraction of transmitted light.

[0116] It would be considered that the body portion of the PET bottle is modified to have greater thickness to give more concrete crystal effect. However, if the thickness of the PET bottle is increased, the amount of PET resin used to form the product is also increased and the unit cost of the product is raised, so this is extremely unsuitable for the biaxially stretch blow molding. Without the biaxial stretch blow molding, sufficient transparency and light weight of the bottle cannot be obtained.

[0117] In the plastic bottle of the present invention, a plurality of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 having small thickness so that pressure massage protrusions 20 can provide strong optical reaction with the transmitted light being refracted. Thus, the plastic bottles 10A and 10B may give excellent decoration effects owing to such crystal effect. Such a plastic bottles 10A and 10B for foods and drinks having the crystal effect may give good feeling to theconsumers with its appearance and make eyes of the consumers focused on the inventive products on the exhibition of a store.

[0118] In another point of view, the body portion 16 may assure its rigidity thanks to the pressure massage protrusions 20 formed on the body portion 16. In particularly, the pressure massage protrusions 20 give significant effects on buckling strength and internal pressure resistance of the body portion 16. Thus, the body portion 16 may possess a self-standing ability toward an external force applied the radial direction of the body portion 16.

[0119] In addition, though the user grasps and presses the body portion 16 with hands to use the plastic bottles 10A and 10B, the body portion 16 is not easily collapsed, assuring that the user can drink in a stable state and the plastic bottles 10A and 10B can be handled stably.

[0120]FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are front views showing various examples of the body portion having a label attachment area according to the present invention.

[0121] Generally, it is well known that a film label or a paper label is attached either to the body portion alone or both to the body and shoulder portions of a plastic bottle for foods or drinks to display a design containing a brand name and the manufacturer. In some cases, this design is directly printed on the body portion itself. The term ‘label attachment area’ is used to describe the fact that a film label or a paper label is attached or printed to the body portion as a display means on the body portion of the plastic bottle.

[0122] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a label attachment area 16 b is formed at an upper part of the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10C, and the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the outer surface of the body portion 16 except the label attachment area 16 b.

[0123] Although the pressure massage protrusions 20 are not formed on the whole surface of the body portion 16, the plastic bottle 10C may give substantially the same massage effect as in the case that the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the whole body portion 16 as shown in FIGS. 1a to 1 d. In other words, since the user properly grasps the shoulder portion 14 between the body portion 16 and the neck portion 12 for massage, the pressure massage protrusions 20 are preferably formed at as far position as possible from the shoulder 14 for the user to easily massage. On the other hand, in FIG. 5, it is shown that a plurality of massage protrusions 14 a are formed at the shoulder portion 14 of the plastic bottle 10C, like in the case of Fig. 1d , to give the pressurizing massage effect together with the striking massage effect. The shoulder portion 14 preferably has suitable diameter and length between the neck portion 12 and the body portion 16 for the user to easily grasp, and the shoulder portion 14 is also preferably gently curved or sloped so that its sectional area can be decreased gradually.

[0124] Also in FIG. 5, the shoulder portion 14 has a dome shape. Although not shown in the figure, the shape of the shoulder portion 14 can be modified to have a round shape like a ball or an elliptical shape like a Rugby ball for more stable grasp. These shapes can be fully realized by way of providing a deeper and wider groove 16 c which connects the shoulder portion 14 and the body portion 16.

[0125]FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the plastic bottle 10D having a different design in which the label attachment area 16 d is formed at an upper part of the body portion 16, and the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on an outer surface of an inwardly curved waist 16 d of the body portion 16. Since the most parts of human body such as the neck, the waist, the shoulder, the hands and the legs are rounded, the inwardly curved waist 16 d helps cause more pressing points of the pressure massage protrusions 20 to make contact with the human body, thus improving the massage effect.

[0126] The plastic bottle 10D shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a pressure resistant bottle which has the internal pressure higher than a normal atmospheric pressure when in use and can be used to contain mainly carbonated water such as coke. In this plastic bottle 10D, a bottom wall 18 a on which a petaloid recess is formed on an outer surface of the bottom portion 18. The bottom portion 18 having such a bottom wall 18 a is molded by using a common 3-part mold, meaning that the pressure massage protrusions 20 should not be formed near the bottom wall 18 a to maintain product releasability. With the plastic bottle 10D shown in FIG. 6, the pressurizing massage protrusions 14 a are formed on the shoulder portion 14 in the same manner as in Fig. 1d.

[0127]FIG. 7 shows a heat resistance bottle as a modification of the present invention, in which thermal stress is exerting on the inner wall during and after the content is filled in the bottle and heat resistance is applied to an inner wall of the plastic bottle. If the plastic bottle is filled with hot fluid and then sealed, initial pressure is generated and the increased internal pressure is applied to the plastic bottle. As the fluid and the space below the cap are allowed to cool, thermal contraction is generated to make the volume of the plastic bottle be partially reduced. Vacuum panels 16 f are formed along a land area 16 e throughout the outer surface of the body portion 16 to compensate the volume reduction, as well known in the art.

[0128] In this example, a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on each of the vacuum panel 16 f, and there can be provided the plastic bottle 10E giving the massage effect through the vacuum panel 16 f.

[0129] In case of the plastic bottle 10E of FIG. 7, the label attachment area 16 b is positioned at an upper part of the body portion 16 for attachment of a common label. In addition, since the shoulder portion 14 is formed at a low position, the user grasps the shoulder portion 14 and the upper part of the body portion 16 together for the sake of striking-type massage. The body portion 16 of the heat resistance plastic bottle 10E has a hexagonal section for instance, and the pressure massage protrusions can be equally formed even if the heat resistance bottle has a rectangular section.

[0130] In case of a heat and pressure resistance bottle used for milk soda water container, not shown, a bottom of the body portion has a round or hemispherical shape for structural resistance against heat and pressure, and a well-known base cup made of polyethylene or polypropylene is used to ensure that the bottle should stand up right. In this case, also, the pressure massage protrusions 20 can be formed on the body portion 16 to make the plastic bottle give massage effect.

[0131] As described above, all kinds of PET bottles, namely, normal pressure bottles, pressure resistant bottles, heat and pressure resistant bottles and heat resistant bottles, can be made to have the massaging function by forming the pressure massage protrusions 20 on a predetermined region of the body portion 16.

[0132]FIG. 8 shows a modification of the plastic bottle to which a handle is added. In this modified example, a handle 13 extends between the shoulder portion 14 and the neck portion 12 in order to allow the user to grasp the shoulder portion more stably and lessen the fatigue of the wrist during the process of massage. In addition, a plurality of pressurizing massage protrusions 13 a can be formed on an outer surface of the handle 13.

[0133] Although it is shown in FIG. 8 that the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on the whole outer surface of the body portion 16, the label attachment area can be formed to the upper portion of the body portion 16 or the shoulder portion 14.

[0134]FIGS. 9a to 9 c show other modifications of the pressure massage protrusions formed to the body portion. In FIG. 9a, a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 20 are arranged in a ‘heart’ shape on the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10G. In FIG. 9b, a plurality of message protrusions 20 are arranged in a ‘diamond’ shape on the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10H. In FIG. 9c, a plurality of massage protrusions 20 are arranged in the shape of a word ‘WATER’ on the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle

[0135] By representing the pressure massage protrusions 20 in a designed shape, letter, figure, symbol or mark on the body portion 16 as described above, the plastic bottles 10G, 10H, and 10J may have improved design and advertisement effects together with the massage effects.

[0136]FIGS. 10a and 10 b show modified shapes of the body portion of the plastic body. The plastic bottles 10K and 10L in Figs. 10a and 10 b have small capacity of 0.18˜0.36 lit. The plastic bottle 10K of FIG. 10a has a circular section with its body portion 16 of a tumbling doll shape, and the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed at a lower outer surface of the body portion 16. The plastic bottle of Fig. 10b has a circular section and the sectional area of the body portion 16 is gradually decreased upwards and downwards from the of the center of the body portion 16, and the pressure massage protrusions 20 are formed on an outer surface of the body portion 16.

[0137] Such a small-capacity plastic bottles 10K and 10L are easily carried by a hand and possibly used for the striking massage. The plastic bottles 10K and 10L are also useful for pressurizing massage by fumbling with or scrubbing the body portion 16. When compressing the palm, the plastic bottles 10K and 10L also generate the water cushion effect, thanks to the elastic deformation and restoration of the body portion 16.

[0138] The plastic bottles 10K and 10L are also easily carried owing to its small capacity of about 0.18˜0.36 lit, and these plastic bottles 10K and 10L can be manufactured and sold as plastic bottles dedicated to the massage purposes. It may be contemplated that the user purchases the plastic bottles 10K and 10L and then fills supplementary fluid for massage into the bottle in order to enhance the massage effect.

[0139]Figs. 11a to lid are front views illustrating various shapes and arrangements of the pressure massage protrusions of the present invention.

[0140]Fig. 11a shows that hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 are arranged on the outer surface of the body portion 16 in a check pattern along horizontal and vertical lines with a regular interval. FIG. 11b shows that cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 20 are arranged on the outer surface of the body portion 16 along sloped lines so that more pressure massage protrusions 20 can be included in a unit area than in the case of the check pattern. FIG. 11c shows that rectangular pyramid-shaped pressure massage protrusions 120 are arranged on the outer surface of the body portion 16 along sloped lines, while FIG. 11d shows that triangular pyramid-shaped pressure massage protrusions 220 are arranged on the outer surface of the body portion 16.

[0141]FIGS. 12a and 12 b are enlarged sectional views showing the hemispherical and cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 20 according to the embodiments shown in Figs. 1a and 1 b.

[0142] The hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 of FIG. 12a are protruded to a certain height from the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 and adapted to give soft massage effect to the user. This hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 may prevent breakdown of the body portion 16 which may otherwise be caused by local fatigue at a point 20 a where the hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 20 originate.

[0143] The pressure massage protrusions 20 in FIG. 12b have a cone shape, and a point 20 a where the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 20 meet with the outer surface 16 a is rounded and the repective tip 20 a of the protrusions 20 is not pointed but rounded in order to avoid giving pain to the user.

[0144] The pressure massage protrusions 20 preferably have a protruded height of 2.0 mm˜10.0 mm with an interval of 5.0 mm˜25.0 mm upon the outer surface of the body portion in consideration of massage effects, moldability and releasability. The pressure massage protrusions 20 may have a hemispherical, cone or pyramid shape, in which the hemispherical pressure massage protrusions would give softer massage effect and the cone- or pyramid-shaped pressure massage protrusions would give harder localized massage effect.

[0145]FIG. 12c, as a modification of FIG. 12b, shows that the pressure massage protrusions 20 on the body portion 16 have different heights from the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16. The different heights of the pressure massage protrusions 20 may give different stimulation on the pressure points during the striking massage. In other words, the intensity of stimulation on the pressure points can be controlled since the pressure massage protrusions 20 with a greater height increases the stimulation on the pressure points, while the pressure massage protrusions 20 with a smaller height decreases the stimulation on the pressure points.

[0146]FIG. 12d is another modification of the pressure massage protrusions, in which the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 320 formed on the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 have an annular step 20 c provided midway thereof. The pressure massage protrusions 320 having the annular step 20 c are advantageous in effectuating the intended massage to the user without pain mainly because the body portion 16 absorbs the striking energy better. In addition, the annular step 20 c helps improve the refraction of the transmitted light, so that the crystal effect of the plastic bottle can be more enhanced.

[0147]FIG. 12e shows still another modification of the pressure massage protrusions, in which an insert groove 20 d is formed at the top of a pressure massage protrusions 420, and a cone-shaped elastic cap 22 made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin is inserted to the groove 20 d to give cushion effect and elastic restoring effect. The elastic cap 22 installed to the pressure massage protrusions 420 may give soft massaging effect during the striking massage.

[0148] FIGS. 13 to 13 e show a plastic massage bottle according to a further embodiment of the present invention. A plastic bottle 10M shown in FIGS. 13 and 14a has a plurality of high elasticity base 23 which are integrally formed with the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 toward an inner space 16 g, and a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 520 formed at the center of the individual high elasticity base 23 to protrude outwardly from the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16. The high elasticity base 23 and the pressure massage protrusions 520 forms what is referred to as a volcano-shaped pressure massage means.

[0149] The pressure massage protrusions with the high elasticity base 23 exhibits good compressive action during the striking massage, so the massage effect is improved to a great extent. Specifically, at the instant the pressure massage protrusions 520 is struck to the human body, a compressive force of the pressure massage protrusions 520 is transmitted to the high elasticity base 23, in response to which the high elasticity base 23 is resiliently yielded receive the compressive force. Thus, the plastic bottle 1OM may give an improved massage effect without pain.

[0150] On the while, an annular step 20 c can be formed on the middle portion of the pressure massage protrusions 620 in a so-called volcano structure, as shown in FIG. 14b. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14c, an insert groove 20 d can be formed at the top of the individual pressure massage protrusion 720 having a high elasticity base 23, and a cone-shaped elastic cap 22 made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect and elastic restoring effect can be inserted to the groove 20 d. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14d, a cone-shaped elastic cap 24 made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect and elastic restoring effect can be placed on the respective pressure massage protrusion 820. The elastic cap 22 or 24 ensures softer massaging effect during the process of striking massage.

[0151] Considering that the elastic caps 22 and 24 provided on the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 720 and 820 might unintentionally come off, the elastic caps 22 and 24 can be adhesively attached to the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 720 and 820.

[0152] The elastic caps 22 and 24 can be made of transparent material or with various colors in order to improve the external design of the plastic bottle.

[0153] In addition, the hemispherical pressure massage protrusions 520 can be used in this embodiment instead of the cone-shaped pressure massage protrusions 520, as shown in FIG. 14e.

[0154] The high elasticity base 23 formed on the pressure massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820 not only gives an improved compressive action, i.e., improved absorption of the striking energy but also promotes the crystal effect of the plastic bottle 10M, because the cubic structure of the high elasticity base 23 improves the refraction of transmitted light together with the pressure massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820.

[0155] In addition, since the high elasticity base 23 is protruded toward the inner space 16 g of the body portion 16 and the pressure massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820 is rooted on the high elasticity base 23 and protruded out of the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16, the height of the pressure massage protrusion 520, 620, 720, or 820 can be relatively reduced than that of the pressure massage protrusion 20 shown in FIGS. 1a to 1 d.

[0156] FIGS. 15 to 17 shows a plastic bottle according to a still further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 is identical to that of Figs. 1a to 1 d and 13, except the structure of the pressure massage means which is set forth below.

[0157] As shown, there are formed pressure massage protrusions 920 of pyramid shape on the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10N. The pressure massage protrusions 920 are arranged to make successive deep valleys 20 e and 20 f in horizontal and vertical directions.

[0158] As the pressure massage protrusions 920 have an acute angle, pressure massage effect is greatly increased. The height from the valleys 20 e and 20 f to the top 20 b of the pressure massage protrusions 920 is preferably in the range of 2.0 mm˜10.0 mm with the interval of the pressure massage protrusions 920 being 5.0 mm˜25.0 mm in order to assure the massage effect when the pressure massage protrusions 920 are pressed against the human body.

[0159] In this embodiment, the top 20 b of the pressure massage protrusions 920 is in the same plane of the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16. However, it would be also possible that the pressure massage protrusions 920 are protruded outwards beyond the outer surface 16 a. In addition, although it has been described that the valleys 20 e and 20 f are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, the pressure massage protrusions can be arranged successively along sloped valleys.

[0160] Massage protrusions 14 a can be formed on the shoulder portion 14 of the plastic bottle 10N of FIG. 15 in the cone shape as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1d or in the hemispherical shape as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1c. Successive cone-shaped massage protrusions can also be formed in an arrangement identical to the pressure massage protrusions 920, and the label attachment area 16 b can be formed to an upper part of the body portion 16. It is also possible to form a step section, as shown in FIG. 12c, on the middle of the pressure massage protrusions 920 of FIG. 15 in order to improve the compressive action of the pressure massage protrusions 920.

[0161]FIGS. 18a to 19 b shows a plastic bottle according to a still further embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 18a to 19 b is identical to that of FIGS. 1a to 1 d and 13 to 15, except the structure of the pressure massage means which is described below.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 18a, pressure massage protrusions 1020 formed to the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10P are made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect and elastic restoring ability and attached to the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16.

[0163] In the plastic massage bottle 10Q shown in FIG. 18b, the pressure massage protrusions 1020 having cushion effect and elastic restoring ability are attached to the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16, and palm stimulation protrusions 114 a made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin to give cushion effect and elastic restoring ability are attached to the outer surface of the shoulder portion 14.

[0164] If the user performs massage with the plastic bottles 10P and 10Q configured as above, the body portion 16 absorbs impacts applied to the human body with the water cushion effect, and the pressure massage protrusions 1020 having cushion effect and elastic restoring ability stimulate the human body at the same time. Thus, these plastic bottles 10P and 10Q may provide softer massage effect than the ones noted in the former embodiments.

[0165] Similarly, since the palm stimulation protrusions 114 a formed to the shoulder portion 14 have their own cushion effect and elastic restoring ability, softer massage effect can be obtained from the palm stimulation protrusions 114 a.

[0166] The pressure massage protrusions 1020 can be adhered to the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 as shown in FIG. 19a. As an alternative, it is also possible that insert grooves 16 h are formed on the outer surface 16 a of the body portion 16 toward the inner space and then the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are attached to each insert groove 16 h in order to stabilize attachment of the pressure massage protrusions 1020 as shown in FIG. 19b.

[0167] When the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are attached to the insert grooves 16 h, the pressure massage protrusions 1020 with compressive force may have great diameter so that the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are forcedly fit into the insert grooves 16 h. Alternatively, a ring-shaped projection can be formed around the insert groove 16 h or the pressure massage protrusion 1020 to make the pressure massage protrusion 1020 unseparable from the insert groove 16 h.

[0168] Likewise, the palm stimulation protrusions 114 a formed on the shoulder portion 14 can be attached in the same way as the pressure massage protrusions 1020. Although it has been described that the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are formed on the whole body portion 16 of the plastic bottles 10P or 10Q shown in FIGS. 18a and 18 b, the label attachment area can be formed to the upper part of the body portion 16 so that the pressure massage protrusions 1020 are omitted in the label attachment area, like in the embodiment in FIG. 5. The pressure massage protrusions 1020 and the palm stimulation protrusions 114 a can also have a hemispherical or pyramid shape instead of the cone shape.

[0169]FIGS. 20a, 20 b and 21 show a plastic bottle according to a still further embodiment of the present invention.

[0170] This embodiment is identical to that shown in Figs. 1a to 1 d, 13, 15 and 18 a, except the configuration of the pressure massage means is focused on below.

[0171] As shown in FIGS. 20a and 21, there are provided a wraparound sheet made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin and a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 1120 integrally formed on a surface of the sheet 25. This sheet is adapted to be wrapped around the outer surface of the body portion 16 of the plastic bottle 10R.

[0172] Since the thin sheet 25 having the pressure massage protrusions 1120 is attached to the outer surface of the thin body portion 16, the plastic bottle 10R constructed in this manner can give the massage effect by the pressure massage protrusions 1120 identical to the former embodiments. The sheet 25 can be attached to the body portion 16 by using adhesive coated on all or partial area of the sheet 25 or by using Velcro Fastener™ so that the sheet 25 can be attached and detached as desired.

[0173] The wrap around sheet 25 having the pressure massage protrusions 1120 can be used as a label. Generally, a plastic film label on which advertisement letters, signs, figures, symbols and marks are selectively printed can be attached to the plastic bottle for foods and drinks.

[0174] Thus, as shown in FIG. 20b, the pressure massage protrusions 1120 are integrally formed on upper and lower parts of the synthetic resin sheet 25 a together with prints of letters and figures so that the sheet 25 a may give the massage effect together with an advertisement effect as a label.

[0175] The pressure massage protrusions 1120 are formed with the same thickness as the sheets 25 and 25 a. The sheets 25 and 25 a have sufficient thickness, preferably 0.1 mm˜0.5 mm, so as not to be easily destroyed during the striking massage or the pressing massage. The sheet 25 and 25 a can be attached to all or a part of the outer surface of the body portion 16.

[0176]FIGS. 22, 23a and 23 b show a plastic bottle according to a still further embodiment of the present invention which is a modification of FIGS. 20a and 20 b.

[0177] As shown in FIG. 23a, a plurality of pressure massage protrusions 1220 are integrally formed on a surface of a thin attachment sheet 26. This sheet 26 is attached to the body portion of the plastic bottle 10S as shown in FIG. 22. A manufacturer can sell the plastic bottle 10S with the attachment sheet 26 kept separated from the bottle and the user may directly attach the attachment sheet 26 to the plastic bottle 10S with the use of an adhesive or double-sided adhesive tape. A food or drink manufacturer can supply the attachment sheet 26 having the pressure massage protrusions 1220 to the consumers who purchase the bottle product with no charge in order to promote the image of the company. This can be also applied to the wraparound sheet 25 shown in FIG. 20a, of course.

[0178] The attachment sheet 26 having the pressure massage protrusions 1220 can be made of rubber, urethane or other synthetic resin such as PET, PE and PP and formed by using the well-known injection molding. The plastic bottle 10S as constructed above may give the same massage effect as the former embodiments by using the pressure massage protrusions 1220 since the attachment sheet 26 having the pressure massage protrusions 1220 is attached on the outer surface of the thin body portion 16.

[0179] On the other hand, the attachment sheet 26 having the pressure massage protrusions 1220 can be used as a sticker for displaying an advertisement. In other words, as shown in FIG. 23b, the advertisement and the pressure massage protrusions 1220 are formed on a surface of the attachment sheet 26 a made of synthetic resin. Adhesive is coated on the back of the attachment sheet 26 a and a release paper 27 for protecting the adhesive is attached to the adhesive. The user can separate the release paper 27 and then attach the attachment sheet 26 a to the outer surface of the body portion 16 in order to endow the bottle with a massage function.

[0180] In case of a coke bottle, for example, the attachment sheet 26 a may contain an advertisement of the manufacturer company. In other cases, a pizza delivery store may utilize the attachment sheet 26 a as a sticker containing a store name and telephone numbers which read, e.g. “MAPAT Pizza™, TEL: 012-345-6789”, for telephone orders.

[0181] The pressure massage protrusions 1220 are formed with the same thickness as the attachment sheets 26 and 26 a. The attachment sheets 26 and 26 a have sufficient thickness, preferably 0.1 mm˜0.5 mm, so as not to be easily destroyed during the striking massage or the pressing massage. The attachment sheets 26 and 26 a can be attached to all or a part of the outer surface of the body portion 16. In addition, the attachment sheets 26 and 26 a can have various sizes and shapes depending on size and shape of the bottle, and the attachment sheets 26 and 26 a can be additionally attached to the shoulder portion 14.

[0182]FIG. 24 shows a modification of the plastic bottle of the present invention, wherein the plastic bottle has a greater height than the bottles in the preceding embodiments and has no shoulder portion.

[0183] The plastic bottle 10T includes a neck portion 12 with a mouth 12 a openably closed by a cap 30, a bottom portion 18, a body portion 16 interconnecting the neck portion 12 and the bottom portion 18 and having a thickness of 0.1 mm˜0.6 mm so as to be elastically deformed and absorb the striking energy in the event of the plastic bottle 10 being tapped on or pressed against a human body. A plurality of the pressure massage protrusions 20 are integrally formed and arranged on the body portion 16 so as to apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle 10 is tapped on or pressed against the human body.

[0184] The body portion 16 has a cylindrical shape and its sectional area and diameter gradually increases as it comes from an upper portion to the bottom 18. A label can be attached to the label attachment area 16 b which is set between the palm stimulation protrusions 13 a and the pressure massage protrusions 20 formed on the body portion.

[0185] Overall outward appearance of the plastic bottle 10T constructed as above has a shape of so-called shortened baseball bat, and the whole height of the plastic bottle 10T is relatively greater than the plastic bottles in the former embodiments. In particular, the body portion 16 connected to the neck portion 12 has a relatively long upper portion, and at a position near the palm stimulation protrusions 13 a the body portion 16 has a diameter suitable for the user to grasp. Since the body portion 16 is long or tall as a whole, the striking points can be kept relatively uniform with enhanced massage effect on the back, the vertebral column, the scapular region and the lumbar region.

[0186] As set forth above, it is preferred that the body portion 16 has a cylindrical shape in cross-section. However, the body portion 16 may have other cross-section including an ellipse, a square and a rectangle depending on the design of the plastic bottle. And various kinds of caps including a well-known one-touch type cap can be used in place of the threadedly tightened cap as illustrated in the drawings.

APPLICABILITY TO THE INDUSTRY

[0187] The plastic massage bottle described above has advantages and effects as follows.

[0188] First of all, when the user conducts striking massage or pressing massage with the plastic bottle of the present invention, the body portion does not transfer the striking energy to the human body in their entirety but absorbs a substantial portion of the striking energy by means of the so-called water cushion effect so that a plurality of the pressure massage protrusions can stimulate the human body and thus give refreshing massage effect without pain.

[0189] Additionally, the massage effect can be freely controlled by adjusting the amount of the fluid filled in the plastic bottle, and the pressure massage protrusions may give various stimulation effects by stimulating the hands or other human bodies in addition to the striking massage if the user scrubs the body portion with both hands, fumbles with the bottle on the palms or rolls the body portion on the human body.

[0190] Moreover, if the user performs massage with the plastic bottle filled with cold fluid in summer, the cold air is quickly transferred to the human body through the body portion and gives refreshing massage effect, and the sound of the smashed fluid may deliver good feeling to the user.

[0191] In addition, the palm stimulation protrusions formed on the shoulder portion or the handle of the plastic bottle may give excellent palm stimulation effect together with the massage effect. Thus, when purchasing a plastic bottle product, the user may get a massage tool having the water cushion effect at the same time, and thus a manufacturer may obtain good evaluation since the consumers would recognize that the plastic bottle could be recycled.

[0192] Secondly, owing to the crystal effects caused by refraction of the light transmitted through the pressure massage protrusions, the consumers can have favorable interest toward the outer appearance of the bottle product, and eyes of the consumers will be focused on the exhibited product, which is so promising to the seller.

[0193] Thirdly, a plurality of the pressure massage protrusions formed on the outer surface of the thin body portion may enhance buckling strength and internal pressure resistance of the body portion. 

1. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a mouth openably closed by a cap; a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion; a bottom portion; and a body portion interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and at least partially filled with fluid capable of generating kinetic energy in response to motion of the bottle, the body portion having a thickness small enough to allow elastic deformation of the body portion in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body but great enough to normally keep the structural integrity of the bottle, the body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.
 2. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the body portion ranges from 0.1 to 0.6 mm.
 3. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 2, wherein the thickness of the body portion ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 mm.
 4. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions integrally formed with and outwardly extending from the body portion.
 5. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a plurality of generally volcano-shaped massage protrusions each having an inwardly directing root section and an outwardly protruding volcano section.
 6. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a plurality of generally pyramid-shaped massage protrusions arranged on the body portion in a predetermined pattern.
 7. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a plurality of elastically deformable massage protrusions fixedly secured to an outer surface of the body portion.
 8. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a wraparound sheet separably attached to an outer surface of the body portion and having at one side a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions formed integrally therewith.
 9. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 8, wherein the wraparound sheet has a pattern for advertisement printed in a preselected letter, symbol and mark.
 10. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the pressure massage means comprises an attachment sheet separably attached to an outer surface of the body portion and having at one side a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions.
 11. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 10, wherein the attachment sheet has a peelable release paper initially adhered thereto by means of adhesive in such a manner that the release paper can be peeled off when the attachment sheet is in use.
 12. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 10, wherein the attachment sheet has a pattern for advertisement printed in a preselected letter, symbol and mark.
 13. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the shoulder portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart, outwardly directing massage protrusions.
 14. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the shoulder portion comprises a plurality of elastically deformable massage protrusions fixedly secured to an outer surface of the shoulder portion.
 15. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the spaced-apart massage protrusions are formed at a spacing of 5.0 to 25.0 mm and with a height of 2.0 to 10.0 mm.
 16. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the spaced-apart massage protrusions are formed at an equal spacing on an entire surface of the body portion excluding a label attachment area.
 17. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the spaced-apart massage protrusions are arranged in a preselected pattern, letter, symbol and mark.
 18. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the body portion has an inwardly curved waist, the massage protrusions arranged on the inwardly curved waist.
 19. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a shape selected from the group consisting of hemisphere, cone and pyramid.
 20. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a handgrip portion provided between the neck portion and the shoulder portion.
 21. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 21, wherein the handgrip portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart massage protrusions integrally formed with and outwardly extending from the body portion.
 22. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 21, wherein each of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a shape selected from the group consisting of hemisphere, cone and pyramid.
 23. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein the pressure massage means comprises a double volcano-shaped massage protrusions each having an inwardly directing root section and an outwardly protruding volcano section with a middle step of annular configuration.
 24. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the spaced-apart massage protrusions has a top cushion member
 25. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the bottle is formed of a substance selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.
 26. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the bottle is selected from the group consisting of a normal pressure bottle, a presure-resistant bottle, a heat-resistant bottle and a pressure/heat-resistant bottle.
 27. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the fluid filled in the bottle comprises beverage.
 28. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, an ellipse, a square and a rectangle.
 29. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a mouth openably closed by a cap; a shoulder portion extending from the neck portion; a bottom portion; and a body portion interconnecting the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, the body portion having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm so that the body portion can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body, the body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.
 30. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 29, further comprising massage-aiding fluid at least partially filled in the bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping or pressing motion of the bottle.
 31. A plastic massage bottle comprising: a neck portion with a mouth openably closed by a cap; a bottom portion; and a body portion interconnecting the neck portion and the bottom portion, the body portion having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.6 mm so that the body portion can be subjected to elastic deformation in the event of the massage bottle being tapped on or pressed against a human body, the body portion including a pressure massage means so shaped and arranged that the massage means can make contact with and apply massage pressure to a multiplicity of discrete, adjoining points of the human body as the bottle is tapped on or pressed against the human body.
 32. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 31, wherein the body portion has a cross-sectional area gradually increasing as it comes away from the neck portion.
 33. The plastic massage bottle as recited in claim 31, further comprising massage-aiding fluid at least partially filled in the bottle for generating kinetic energy in response to the tapping or pressing motion of the bottle. 